Storm sinks Tragically Hip classic

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DENIS ARMSTRONG, Ottawa Sun

Aug 31, 2005

, Last Updated: 1:50 AM ET

OTTAWA - Ottawa's rock radio stations The Bear 106.9 and CHEZ 106.1 have both decided to pull The Tragically Hip classic New Orleans is Sinking from their playlists at least until Hurricane Katrina abates and the Louisiana city gets back on its feet.

The 1989 blues-rock classic, which is a staple at both stations, regularly airing two or three times a week, comes a little too close to reality for some listeners.

"We'll sit on the song for a while until the situation cools off," said The Bear's program director Gord Taylor. Taylor pulled the song after it aired Monday around 2 p.m, just after the catastrophic storm peaked.

"We planned to play the song days before Katrina struck," Taylor explained. "It just happened to land on our schedule before we realized the full impact of the storm. It wasn't a conscious decision to play New Orleans is Sinking just as the city was really sinking."

Over at classic rock station CHEZ 106.1, program director Danny Kingsbury yanked the song off the station's playlist before the storm hit early Monday morning.

"You have to be cognizant to world news," said Kingsbury. "It's a distressing situation, we have to show some sensitivity. But at the same time, we can't be paralyzed by it."